President's Message

june 2024

Dear MDACC Members,

We are excited to share our vision for the Maryland Chapter ACC and invite you to become an integral part of the mission!

 

Maryland Chapter ACC advocates for the health of patients, provides local and regional educational opportunities, connects the local CV community, and mentors the next generation of diverse CV professionals.

 

Achieving this vision relies on your passion and dedication. The committees, leaders and responsibilities are:

 

ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

DR. STAN LIU, CHAIR

• Follow the ACC Advocate Checklist
• Advocate at the state (January-April) and federal levels (September-October: ACC Legislative Conference)
• Respond to ACC action alerts (at least three annually)
• Increase participation in HeartPAC
• Encourage legislator practice visits to member places of work
• Develop rapid response team to send emails and testify for CV issues
• Increase collaborations with local chapters of like-minded societies

 

EDUCATION/MACCS

DR. RANI HASAN, CHAIR

• Plan annual MACCS (Mid-Atlantic Capital Cardiology Symposium)
• Plan quarterly MDACC case conference series (joint FIT, FACC and CVT series)
• Support local research through FIT scholarships and abstract competitions
• Support local and regional educational events (online and in-person; MDACC and CVT)
• Support German Cardiac Society (DGK) / MDACC fellow exchange and proposing international virtual speakers

 

CARDIOVASCULAR TEAM

DR. JOHN LINDSLEY, CHAIR

• Plan CVTeam Pillars of Cardiology series (and increase involvement in other MDACC educational events)
• Plan CVTeam mentorship/networking events
• Appoint two members to the Advocacy, Education, and WIC Committees
• Ensure CVTeam representation in all MDACC event planning sessions
• Encourage enrollment in the Certified Cardiovascular Knowledge Examination (CCKE)
• Participate or plan community engagement activities
• Recruit members from private, hospital-based, academic, and military institutions
• Increase collaborations with local chapters of like-minded societies

 

WIC (WOMEN CARDIOLOGISTS)

DR. CARMEL BOGLE, CHAIR

• Plan annual WIC Leadership Conference
• Plan in-person and virtual WIC mentorship/networking events
• Appoint two members to the Advocacy and Education Committees
• Ensure WIC representation in all MDACC event planning sessions
• Recruit members from private, hospital-based, academic, and military institutions

 

FELLOWS IN TRAINING

DOCTORS JELANI GRANT AND ALEX GYFTOPOULOS, CO-CHAIRS

• Plan joint mentorship/networking events (can include residents and students from area medical schools)
• Plan other FIT events
• Recruit members from all three fellowship programs in Maryland to serve on the committee
• Appoint two members to the Advocacy, Education, and WIC Committees
• Ensure FIT representation in all MDACC event planning sessions
• Support the ACC FIT to FACC campaign
• Recruit members from all four fellowships in Maryland
• Support German Cardiac Society (DGK) / Maryland ACC fellow exchange

 

CARRIER ADVISORY

DR. DARPAN BANSAL, CHAIR

• Advise on health policies affecting MDACC members
• Monitor state and regional Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) policies
• Ensure local coverage determinations reflect existing ACC/AHA guidelines and current clinical practice in order to deliver appropriate, high-quality cardiovascular care to patients.
• Participate in 50-state ACC Board of Governor Carrier Advisory workgroup

 

We encourage you to bring your unique talents and perspectives to these committees. Please indicate your interest by clicking on the following link and filling out an application! Together, we can make a significant impact on our community and advance the field of cardiovascular care in Maryland.

 

Thank you for your commitment to the Maryland Chapter ACC.

 

Sammy Zakaria, MD, MPH, FACC

President, Maryland ACC Chapter

The Maryland Chapter ACC supports the American College of Cardiology’s statement of support for the Ukrainian people; see this link for the full statement.